Amateur Radio Equipment: Knobs, Buttons, and Functions
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Chapter 5 Amateur Radio Equipment
Chapter 5 Transmitters & Receivers You are sitting in front of your radio now what? What do all those knobs and buttons do? Read your Manual! 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Transmitters & Receivers Getting Ready Steps • Turn rig (radio) on • Select Band • Select Proper Antenna for Band • Select Frequency • VFO, Memory, Direct Entry Keypad • VFO Tuning increment 1kHz, 100, 10, 1Hz • Select Transmit Mode • USB/LSB, CW, AM, FM, RTTY • Turn off RIT/Clarifier Ctrl • Set RF Power Control • Select receive filter • 2.4 kHz for SSB, 500 Hz or less for CW • Speech Processor “OFF” • Listen to insure a clear frequency • Ask“Is this frequency in use?” several times • Press (Ant) Tune Button to ready Transmitter • Check Mic Gain for proper meter reading 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Radio Controls • Mic Gain – sets mic sensitivity • ALC set to avoid distortion • AF Gain – Audio Freq. or Volume control • Squelch/RF Gain – Quiet backbround noise/Sets receive sensitivity (may be separate controls) • ATT – Attenuator reduces receiver sensitivity in programmed steps • Pre-Amp – Boosts receive sensitivity, also raises noise floor, seldom used below 12 Meters • RIT/Clar – Receiver Incremental Tuning, separates your receive from your transmit freq. • XIT – moves transmit frequency independent of receive • Shift – moves your receive pass-band to reduce adjacent freq. interference • Metering • S-Meter – S1-9 +20, 30 • Power – Tx watts or % • SWR - <2.0 desired • ALC – <full deflection 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Radio Controls • Twin PBT – Pass band tuning, changes the upper and lower edge of your receiver pass-band to reduce interferance • Notch – Auto or Manual filters out unwanted frequencies, Hetrodyne • Noise blanker – Reduces noise like ignition noise • Noise Reduction – Quiets of softens the receive signal • VOX – Voice Operated Transmit (hands free) • VOX gain, Anti-VOX, Delay • VFO A/B – Selects between either VFO • Split – Transmit on A VFO and receive on B or reverse • Memory – Select Memory mode for Frequency selection • AGC – Auto Gain Control • Slow, Medium, Fast (CW) 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Digital Modes • CW - on / off keying most basic digital mode RTTY – Radio Teletype, was one of the first digital modes – 5 bit Baudot code, only upper case letter and figures, 100% duty Cycle • PSK-31 – Phase Shift Keying at 31 Baud, replaced RTTY as the most popular digital mode, very low power and easy on your transmitter (Soundcard) • Digipan, Fldigi, Ham Radio Deluxe - DM780 • FT8, JT65, JT9 – Low power weak signal 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Digital Modes • Packet – Keyboard to Keyboard Mode • Simplex Channels (145.01 to 145.09 MHz) • AX.25 protocol • ARQ – Automatic Repeat Request (Error Correction) • HF uses 300 baud, VHF/UHF uses 1200 baud on 2 meters and 9600 baud on higher bands • TNC – Hardware (Terminal Node Controller) encodes an decodes Packet data • Digipeaters – Digital Repeaters, store and forward information, retransmits similar to a voice repeater but not simultaniously • Winlink Gateway email (W4LCO 145.030) 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Digital Modes • Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) using packet mainly on 2-Meters 144.390 MHz • Interfaces GPS with Packet to send beacons with station coordinates • Local features such as repeaters, hamfests, operating events, etc. • Voice Alert; shows frequency received stations are monitoring (with Kenwood radio) • Home stations use software like Aprsis32 (Free) which uses OpenStreetMap to show station’s exact location • Some GPS’s interface with radios to show station locations on the GPS’s map display 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Digital Modes • D-Star – Icom incantation of digital voice/data radios • Runs on VHF/UHF Simplex or Repeater • Also has analog FM for compatibility • Can connect to reflectors via the internet for long distance contacts • DMR • Commerical used by Hams 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Digital Mode Equipment • TNC – Terminal Node Controller (Packet) • Kantronics – KPC-3+ (1200 baud only) $200 • Kantronics – Kam XL (HF 300, 1200, & 9600) $420 • MFJ-1270X – MFJ TNC-x KISS mode TNC $125 • Byonics – TinyTrack IV KISS TNC assembled $75 • Computer Interface to Radio • RigBlaster (West Mountain Radio) Several models • Some use computer sound for audio, some have built-in sound cards • Signalink USB – Most popular interface, has built-in soundcard $85 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Power Supplies • Power Supplies: • Convert 120V AC to 13.8V DC to power radios • Rated by voltage and current, 13.8V 20A, 13.8V 30A, etc. • Regulation is important, no load to max load should have very small voltage change if any • Allow at least a 25% safety margin above what the radio draws • Linear (Heavy, very reliable, more expensive) • Switching (like computer P.S., light weight, very popular, lower price) 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Power Supplies • Linear (Heavy, very reliable, more expensive) • Switching (like computer P.S., light weight, very popular, lower price) 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Generators • Generators: • Use sine wave output inverting type (BEST) • Voltage must be well regulated • Power tools don’t require clean output or good regulation • Vary in capacity from 500 Watts on up to several Kilowatts (KW) • Smaller generators 120V only • Larger Generators also have 230V output 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Batteries • Three basic groups: • Disposable or Primary – use once then recycle (Alkaline AAA, AA, 9V, etc.) Can be refrigerated to extend life but don’t freeze them • Rechargeable or Secondary - can be recharged many times (NiMH, NiCd, LiON, etc.) • Storage – used for long term energy storage, can be recharged many times (SLA, AGM, NiCd), usually higher capacity than other types, rated in Ampere Hours (AH) 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Batteries • HT’s use a variety of types: • Battery Rating in mAh milliamp hours • Different type chargers for each type battery • NiCad (develop memory if not proper charged and discharged) • NiMH have better amp hour rating than NiCad • Lithium Ion – like laptop computers, long battery life 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) • All hams experience RFI • Hams can receive RFI from various devices • Arc Welders, Electric Motors, Plasma TVs, Over the horizon Radar, Baby monitors, electric fences, Switch power supplies • Transmitters • Low Pass filters to reduce harmonics and frequencies above 30 MHz, Common Mode Chokes on Coax, Grounding • TV’s & other devices • High Pass filter to pass the TV frequencies and block the lower ham frequencies • Ferrite beads or clamp on ferrite chokes on power leads or speaker leads to remove RF currents • Direct Detecting – from strong signals (Fundamental Overload) 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
RFI • Insure your own home is RF clean • Use proper grounding (National Electric Code) • Insure you station equipment is tuned properly • Get signal reports from friends • Assure your station is sounding good • Not over driven, mic gain or speech processor set to hot • Use good engineering practices when installing your equipment (wire size, fuses, power disconnects) • Mobiles (don’t want flying object is case of accident) 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
RFI • Part 15 Rules • Unlicensed devices (unintentional radiators) • May NOT cause interference to a Licensed Station • MUST ACCEPT interference caused by a properly operated Licensed Station • Owner of the unlicensed device is responsible for fixing interference • Although you may assist in isolation, DO NOT FIX a problem for the owner 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
RF Grounding • RF Grounding = Radio Grounding • Keep all the radio equipment at the same RF voltage • Not a substitute from AC safety ground • Bond all metal enclosures to a common ground BUS • #8 or larger solid wire to 8’ ground rod • Keep ground wire lengths short, no loops • ½” copper pipe makes good ground buss • NEC requires all ground rods to be bonded to svc entrance ground 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Radios: Handi Talkies (HT) Yaesu FT-60R Dual Band $144.95 Yaesu FT-270R 2-meter (splash proof) $139.95 Yaesu FT-250R 2-meter $126.95 Yaesu VX-8DR Dual Band w/APRS $340.95 (rebate) 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Radios: Handi Talkies Kenwood TH-D72a Dual band with APRS & GPS $450 Icom IC-V80-Sport 2-meters $98 Icom IC-92AD Dual Band with D-Star $480 Kenwood TH-K20a 2-meters $135 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Radio: 2-meter & Dual Banders Yaesu FT-1900R 2-meter (55W) $160 Yaesu FT-7900R Dual Bander $324 Yaesu FT-2900R 2-meter 75W $190 Yaesu FT-8800R Dual Bander $430 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Radio: 2-meter & Dual Banders Kenwood TM-281a 2-meter 65W $143 Kenwood TM-D710G Dual Bander 50W w/APRS, Packet& GPS $640 Kenwood TM-V71a Dual Bander 50W $365 Yaesu FTM-400DR Dual Bander 50Ww/C4FM, APRS, GPS$590 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Radio: 2-meter & Dual Banders Icom ID-5100A Dual Bander 50W D-Star Touchscreen $725 Icom IC-2300 2-meter 65W $190 Icom IC-V8000 2-meter 75W $219 Icom ID-880H-05 Dual Bander 50W W/D-Star $420 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Radios: HF + Yaesu FT-450D $750 Yaesu FTDX1200 $1,370 Yaesu FT-897D HF with VHF/UHF $980 Yaesu FT-857D HF with VHF/UHF $790 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Radios: HF + Icom IC-7200 HF + 6-meters USB computer interface $890 Icom IC-7410 HF + 6-meters, USB computer Interface, $1,525 Icom IC-718 HF + 6-meters $640 Icom IC-7100 Mobile HF + 6m, 2m, 70cm D-Star, USB computer Interface $1,275 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Radios: HF + Kenwood TS-2000 Complete Shack in a Box HF + VHF/UHF & satellite $1,430 Kenwood TS-590S HF + 6-meters $1,260 Kenwood TS-480SAT HF + 6-meters Separate Control Head $920 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5
Questions? 7/1/2014 - 6/30/2018 Technician Chapter 5